PRINCESS Eugenie gave North East volunteers the Royal stamp of approval during her first official engagement.

The Princess, who is sixth in line to the throne, took time out of her university studies to visit the Community Foundation Tyne and Wear and Northumberland and the community groups the charity supports here.

Her visit to Newburn Leisure Centre yesterday marked her first official engagement in Newcastle since moving to the city to study at Newcastle University.

And as she chatted to local youngsters, she told the Chronicle how well she’s settled into Tyneside. She said: “I love it – it’s fantastic.”

The Princess, who was accompanied by her father, The Duke of York, was given a demonstration by youngsters from the Newburn Judo Club after chatting to teenagers from the Kids Kabin, in Walker, which runs an arts activity club for eight to 16-year-olds.

Matthew Ingham, 15, who attends the group, even managed to persuade the Princess to taste a smoothie he had made.

Matthew, a pupil at Walker Technology College, said: “I asked if she would like a smoothie and she said ‘yes’. So we both said ‘cheers’ and drank it.

“I’ve had such a fabulous day and I’ve loved every minute of it. It’s not every day you get to meet somebody like that – it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I knew as soon as I saw the helicopter how important she was.”

During Prince Andrew’s visit to the region he also called at South Tyneside College and Team Valley trading estate, in Gateshead, as part of their 75th anniversary celebrations, and at part of UK Land Estates.

At the leisure centre the Princess took time to speak to workers from Mencap Dilson College, a specialist college in Northumberland.

Students from the college, which specialises in delivering education to young adults, impressed the Princess with a display on specially-designed bikes.

Learner admissions and marketing officer Lee McDonough said: “She was really lovely and she was really interested in the students and what they were doing.

“She was really impressed that the college was giving pupils the chance to do something that they wanted to do.

“I thought she did really well on her first official engagement and she seemed really happy to be here.”

Outside the leisure centre pupils from Westgate Juniors football team showed off some of their skills and techniques to the Princess before she left. And Leila Errington, nine, of South Benwell, who was one of the youngsters showing off with the ball, said: “It was the first time I have met a princess before and I was nervous, but I really enjoyed it.” The Community Foundation acts as a hub for people who want to give to organisations, and individuals seeking funding.

Other groups, who rely on the charity and attended the Royal visit, included Them Wifies, a community arts group in Newcastle, the Scotswood Community Garden and Healthworks Newcastle, who help people maintain or improve people’s health.

Chair of the Community Foundation Ashley Winter, OBE, said: “We were delighted to have been chosen to host the Royal visit and that we were able to showcase the generosity of our donors and to highlight the fantastic work of our local community groups.”